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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 5-2, Convergence

The group had stayed up late during the night resolving to help Prince Malcom attempt to diplomatically dismiss the Church's soldiers without blood shed. Although the Prince was gone before most of the party had awakened, Aodhan resolved to let everyone rest as much as possible. Still, they were able to wait only so long and, when they could delay no longer he decided to let Friar Arlowe and Tobias continue to rest. Dr. Brownell reassured him that she would send them on their way once they had awakened.

Although most of the Tribal folk were nomadic they rarely found reason to travel through the different kingdoms and, in that regard, Aodhan was quite unique: he had spent much of his life among the settled people. Vallara was a small city he knew fairly well. Essentially a frontier town, it had small bastions of growth and scientific progress but the vast majority of it was still quite rustic. It was divided into three distinct Quarters, and each had a specific feel to it.

The party had spent the night at Dr. Brownell's home, which was situated in the Residential District. Although the most commonly traveled streets there were made of gravel the vast majority were little more than graded and compacted dirt paths. The group traveled wooden sidewalks for much of their trip through the district as it helped them avoid the large amount of mud coating the ground due to recent rains. Although the sun was well-up, Aodhan could still smell the scent of the recently-extinguished wick torches that were spread about the streets to provide light for night time and early morning travelers.

The trip itself went smoothly as they passed from the Residential District and into the Commerce Quarter. Their new surroundings were far more finished and refined. The main streets of the quarter were cobbled while the rest were compacted gravel. The majority of buildings were a combination of wood and stone but here-and-there a traveler would be able to catch sight of some well-to-do businesses made of cement; almost all the buildings at least had the basics of finishing-- siding and paint were quite common.

Finished cement sidewalks were found lining the busier streets, but the marketplace the group passed was an engineering marvel: two square blocks of a solid concrete slab. The marketplace was the Commerce Quarter's pride and joy, housing numerous stalls, tents, and wagons belonging to traveling merchants from any number of kingdoms and tribes. As it was still early in the morning most of the temporary structures were still being set up, but that activity caught Runs-on-Air's eye.

The buck addressed Aodhan in the Tribal Tongue, "When we are done can we come back to see this place, Friend Aodhan?"

The Wolf nodded, responding in kind, "If everything goes well, yes, Friend Runs-on-Air, we can."

Their discussion was brought to a close when Sister Aurelie ran face-first into a wall of a man: a tall, broad-shouldered Wolverine wearing Templar Armor. The stranger reached out immediately to steady the Cat, then took a moment to look at the group. His eyes ultimately returned to Sister Aurelie, who he released, and then addressed in a calm tone. He spoke with a decidedly Ilysean accent as he bowed his head, "Please forgive me, Sister-- I have been so distracted that I must not have seen you."

The group was frozen with baited breath, as if realizing that, at any moment the Templar would recognize them as Church fugitives. Brother Rhys, however recovered first and stepped forward, "We may have been guilty of the same. Thank you for the apology, but we likely owe you the same courtesy, sir....?"

The Wolverine caught the questioning inflection in the rat's voice, "Sir Umberto Marino, of the Prince Regent's guard."

Brother Rhys bowed his head at the greeting and motioned to himself, then around the rest of the group in turn, "Brother Rhys Barrow of Newport and Sister Aurelie of the sisters Divine. These are our two guides, Aodhan of the Oak and Runs-on-Air of the Yew."

The Templar nodded to each in turn, "Well met. God's blessing unto you."

Aodhan let out the breath he'd been holding; if the Templar was a member of Thaddius' guard then he wouldn't have been privy to the 'messy' events that took place at the Cathedral in Newport... hopefully. That did, however, raise an interesting question, which the Wolf was very interested in asking, "What brings you to Vallara, Sir Umberto?"

A voice spoke up from a nearby alley, as its owner, a finely groomed Doberman of lithe-but-muscular frame emerged from the shadows, "Certainly not the welcoming nature of its people... at least, not for Churchies, so far as I can tell."

Brother Rhys' fur puffed slightly, "I beg your pardon? 'Churchies'?"

Another individual appeared beside the Dog, a tan-skinned Human with a ready smile. Despite the welcoming expression, Aodhan didn't miss the fact that the man had two swords on his belt. The Human stepped up beside Sir Umberto, speaking in the smooth, flowing accent of a Soyrian, "You will please have to forgive Brody... he knows manners for all variety of courtly gatherings but, sadly, it seems he has fallen short on the proper etiquette for dealing with the Church."

The Doberman let out a single 'ha', followed by a frank statement, "Maybe I'm just trying to fit in better with the townsfolk... obviously Vallara has no love lost for the Church if how the men in Fountain Square are being treated."

Sir Umberto held up a gauntleted paw, "That is enough, Brody. These people do not deserve the ire of this town any more than we do."

Sister Aurelie stepped closer, "So... you aren't with the Church's invasion force?"

The Human's eyebrows raised along with the corners of his lips, widening his smile, "Oh? A divine crusade has come to Vallara? This is getting truly intriguing."

The Templar glanced at the swordsman, "I'm certain it isn't what it sounds like, Sandoval."

The Human continued smirking, "Based on the large swath of soldiers gathered in Fountain Square I would say it is exactly what it sounds like, Sir Umberto."

Aodhan was of mixed opinion of the three men; one was obviously from the Church but the other two were decidedly not; as a whole, they were very much a wild card. He made the decision then and there to test his luck, "They were poised to join more of the Church's forces in an attack on the Yew Tribe."

The Wolverine and Human looked immediately taken aback, while the Doberman did little more than flick an ear. Sir Umberto shook his head, "They would have no reason to do such a thing. I cannot imagine the--"

Sandoval interrupted him, "No... this makes perfect sense."

The Templar glanced his way, "I understand you have no love for the Church, Sandoval, but I could not believe that you would truly think that--"

The Human interrupted him, "It makes PERFECT sense once you consider certain..." and he made a little gesture like a knob turning, "...outside forces."

The Wolverine's small, round ears raised up as he regarded his companion, "Do you think it's related?"

Sandoval nodded, "I heard they may have been responsible for the Birch Tribe, and I KNOW they are responsible for the Mist Tribe... not to mention my own family."

Runs-on-Air, who was apparently having trouble keeping up with the conversation interjected, "You are... from a tribe?"

While the Human smirked at the question and Brody out-and-out laughed, Sir Umberto simply overlooked it, turning to Brother Rhys, "Why is it YOU have come to Vallara, if I might ask, Brother?"

Despite Aodhan's wish to answer for the party he remained quiet; the question had been leveled at the priest and it wouldn't have been seemly if the Wolf had answered on his behalf. As it was the Rat did fine on his own, "Several members of our party were injured and we came here for healing... just another series of misunderstandings, I'm sorry to say."

Sandoval nodded thoughtfully, "A shame you chose such a poor time to be in town... it would seem that there no small amount of bad blood between these people and the Church's army."

Sister Aurelie stepped up beside Brother Rhys, "That is why we're still here... we're trying to help Prince Malcom end the stand-off between the Church's soldiers and Vallara without any violence."

The comment immediately drew the Templar's attention, "Prince Malcom is here in Vallara?"

Aodhan was immediately on guard; if Sir Umberto was in service to Prince Thaddius then there was no way to tell how the Wolverine would take the news. He put forth the effort to continue appearing as relaxed as he could, all the while his muscles bunched beneath the serene surface, ready to spring into action.

The Templar's response surprised him, "All for the best then. The Prince Regent has said time and time again how highly he regards his brother. If anyone will be able to secure peace without bloodshed it will be Prince Malcom."

Sandoval glanced to Brody, "Move on ahead... see what you can find out about what's happening at Fountain Square and we'll join you soon."

The Doberman glanced to Umberto, who nodded. Once the Dog had left, the Wolverine looked back to the Human, "We can be of use here so long as you do not mind putting your quest on hold for a time."

The Soyrian swordsman simply smiled in response, "I would dare to say that aiding Prince Malcom may yet further all of our goals-- I cannot imagine a situation being pure happenstance... not without a little direction from behind the scenes."

Sir Umberto flicked an ear, raising an eyebrow, "You seem to think they're behind EVERYTHING, Mr. De La Rocha."

The Human nodded, "And I am often right."

With little understanding of the subject of their discussion, Aodhan could do little to add to it. Instead, he glanced back at the rest of his party inquistitively. A mixture of some tentative and some confident approval gave him his response. "Alright... the more level-heads seeking peace the easier this will hopefully be."

'Hopefully', Aodhan reminded himself was the operative word.